The development of a Rho Chi awards program at the national level had its beginnings in 1928. At that time, Zada M. Cooper suggested that part of a scholarship fund program be used to recognize local chapters that best exemplified the mission of the Rho Chi Society. By 1937, however, the vision of the Society had shifted from developing a scholarship fund to that of building a research fund that could stimulate exploratory initiatives in the pharmaceutical sciences.

The Cumulative Research Fund was thus established with the idea that the interest from that fund would support research efforts. That fund reached its goal in 1956, and at the Annual Meeting that followed, the Society formally adopted the Rho Chi Chapter Awards Program.

Nature of the Award

The development of a Rho Chi awards program at the national level had its beginnings in 1928. At that time, Zada M. Cooper suggested that part of a scholarship fund program be used to recognize local chapters that best exemplified the mission of the Rho Chi Society. By 1937, however, the vision of the Society had shifted from developing a scholarship fund to that of building a research fund that could stimulate exploratory initiatives in the pharmaceutical sciences.

The Cumulative Research Fund was thus established with the idea that the interest from that fund would support research efforts. That fund reached its goal in 1956, and at the Annual Meeting that followed, the Society formally adopted the Rho Chi Chapter Awards Program.

Purpose of the Awards

The original purpose of the Chapter Awards Program was to encourage Rho Chi chapters to initiate and promote activities at the local level that would stimulate and encourage qualified baccalaureate students in pharmacy to pursue graduate education in the pharmaceutical sciences. As the awards program developed, the Society’s Executive Council realized that many chapters were located at colleges that had limited or no graduate programs. Therefore, in 1970, the Society’s Executive Council authorized the Chapter Awards Committee to expand the basis for participating in the program to include all chapter activities that could contribute to the mission of the Society and thus to excellence in the profession. In 1985, the Executive Council approved a program modification that established a yearly theme for the competition, set by the Executive Council.

Following adoption of a new Mission and Vision in 1998 , the Executive Council in 2000 determined that the continuous theme for the Chapter Awards Program will be: Implementing the Rho Chi Mission and Vision at the Chapter Level.

The Chapter Awards Program is divided into two award categories. The first is the Chapter Project Proposal category. Given the dynamic nature of the pharmacy profession, the swiftness of scientific and technical advances and changes in the health care system as a whole, this project could take many forms. However, the theme for the project proposal must be consistent with the Society’s mission and vision. The second category is the Chapter Achievement Award, which recognizes the full scope of chapter activities as documented in the Annual Chapter Report.

Lecture Awards

As one of its highest distinctions, the Society seeks to encourage and recognize outstanding achievement by distinguished scholars.

Faculty Advisor Awards

The purpose of this award is to recognize the unique contributions and accomplishments of outstanding faculty advisors.

Alumni Honor Roll

The Society seeks universal recognition of its members as lifelong intellectual leaders in pharmacy.